Federal Court Sentences Foreign National Drug Trafficker Who Moved Thousands of Kilograms of Cocaine

 

U.S. District Court Judge Denise Page Hood sentenced an Albania national, Ylli Didani, 48, to 25 years in prison. A federal jury recently convicted him of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. and Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon, Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA Detroit Field Division.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Marty Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and Chief John Piggott, Farmington Hills Police Department.

Evidence at trial proved Didani was a leader of an international drug trafficking organization with ties to the United States, South America, and Europe. Didani and other unindicted co-conspirators planned and financed the distribution of cocaine from several locations including the Eastern District of Michigan. Didani arranged the distribution of enormous shipments of cocaine from South America to Europe, where the cocaine was seized by law enforcement. As a result of this investigation, in 2019 and 2020, law enforcement seized over 4300 kilograms of cocaine Didani’s organization loaded onto five different containerships that were bound for international ports. The seized cocaine has a street value of over $100,000,000.00.

“This sentencing sends a clear message that no drug trafficking organization is beyond our reach,” said Dixon. “The DEA works side-by-side with our local, state, federal, and international partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global criminal networks. The seizure of more than 4,300 kilograms of cocaine during this investigation demonstrates what we can achieve when we stand united in protecting the public from those who profit from addiction.”

The evidence at trial proved Didani and other members of his organization planned the design of an underwater drone that would be utilized to transport large quantities of cocaine to Europe. The drone, which was going to be equipped with an underwater modem and GPS antenna, would transport the cocaine while attached to the bottom of a commercial containership. The drone would then be remotely released from the containership off the shore of Europe. The drone and cocaine would then be picked up by a fishing boat controlled by Didani’s organization.

“The interagency collaboration on this case is a prime example of how the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) is designed to combat transnational criminal organizations just like this one. We thank our partners for sinking this operation and bring justice to a foreign national who was poisoning our friends abroad,” said Gorgon.

“The laws governing the trafficking of drugs in the United States are very clear, there is no separate set of rules if the drugs are trafficked by land or sea,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentencing sends a direct message to drug traffickers globally that they will he held accountable for drug trafficking and the money laundering that comes with it. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to be on the team with our law enforcement partners, keeping illicit drugs off our streets and out of America.”

“Today’s sentencing marks a definitive victory in our ongoing mission to dismantle transnational criminal organizations that profit from the scourge of dangerous drugs in our communities,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “This outcome is the result of seamless cooperation between CBP and our law enforcement partners and this sense of collective vigilance remains our strongest tool in protecting our communities and securing our borders.”

This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Detroit comprises agents and officers from numerous agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.  This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service and the Farmington Hills Police Department provided critical assistance in this investigation. 

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CHILD CARE WEBSITE AND INTERACTIVE MAP

 

New tool helps families find and compare child care options across all five boroughs

 

Includes personalized questionnaire to match families with the right programs  

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the launch of a new online child care map and resource center designed to make it easier for families to find, understand and choose child care programs that meet their needs.   

  

For the first time, families can visit nyc.gov/childcare to search for child care options citywide using a single platform. The site allows users to filter by location, age group and cost, and provides key details about providers, including services offered, eligibility requirements and contact information.  

  

The new tool builds on the Mamdani administration's commitment to universal, accessible child care. It follows the addition of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats in high-demand neighborhoods and the launch of 2,000 free 2-K seats in four communities across the city.   

  

“Parents already carry so much. For too long, finding child care has meant hours of searching, cross-checking lists and relying on word of mouth. In New York City, finding care for your child shouldn’t feel like a second job,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This tool is about making government work for people — simple, clear and accessible — so every parent can make the best decision for their child.”   

  

“Today’s announcement underscores this administration’s commitment to using technology to make essential government services and benefits more accessible to the New Yorkers who need them most,” said CTO and OTI Commissioner Lisa Gelobter. “This game-changing child care online map and resource center, featuring 10,000 providers across the five boroughs, provides our NYC families with an invaluable resource to help them locate and select child care that meets their needs so they don’t waste valuable time searching for and sifting through information on dozens of websites. Thank you to all our tireless child care providers across the city and the Office of Child Care for bringing city and state partners together to give families the priceless peace of mind that comes with reliable child care.”  

  

The first-of-its-kind interactive map — developed with input from parents at every stage — brings together provider information from across the five boroughs into one searchable platform. It offers a streamlined, easy-to-use layout that helps families understand their options and take full advantage of the free and affordable care. The website is available in multiple languages and is fully accessible on mobile devices.   

  

In addition to the map, the website offers tools to support parents at every stage of the child care search. These include:   

•   Clear, plain-language guides to each seat-types – including 3-K, 2-K, pre-K and other early child care options, so families can understand what’s available.  

•   A short questionnaire to help parents identify providers that best match their needs, schedules and preferences.   

•   Transparent information on 10,000 child care programs families rely on, including health and safety inspection records, walking and transit directions, and contact details.  

•   Live support by phone or email, in partnership with Child Care Resource Centers — trusted, multilingual community organizations with a long track record of helping families navigate the system.     

  

The platform was developed through multiple rounds of engagement with parents and child care advocates – including focus groups and usability testing — to ensure the information is both clear and accessible. The City will continue to gather feedback and improve the site over time.  

New York City Council Releases Preliminary Budget Response, Identifying $6 Billion in Resources as Alternative Path to Closing Funding Shortfall

 

Council’s proposals for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 would avoid increasing property taxes, drawing down reserves, or reducing critical services for New Yorkers

Council also prioritizes expanding Fair Fares to provide free transit and seed up to $3,000 in college savings account to put every New York family on a clearer path to financial stability

Today, the New York City Council published its response to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Preliminary Budget proposal, offering an alternative budgeting path for Fiscal Years (FY) 2026 and 2027. The response provides the necessary resources to fund spending priorities without increasing taxes on property owners and renters, reducing funding for critical services, or drawing down the City’s reserves.

The comprehensive plan to address the City’s financial challenges closes an estimated $6 billion budget shortfall identified by the Council over the two years, offering dozens of proposals that identify new resources that can be achieved through cost and revenue re-estimates, efficiencies and reforms, and additional revenue-raisers without cutting services or staff.

The Council’s full Fiscal Year 2027 Preliminary Budget Response is available here.

“Amid a serious affordability crisis impacting New Yorkers across the city, the Council has a responsibility to act as a strong fiscal steward as we face a significant budget shortfall,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “We cannot in good conscience fund the City’s needs on the backs of homeowners or renters, by digging into emergency reserves, or by cutting essential programs. Our response offers a clear alternative to taking those steps, puts the City back on stable footing and invests directly in New Yorkers.”

The Council’s response addresses roughly $1.1 billion in Council priorities that were negotiated into the FY 2026 budget but were not baselined in the Mayor’s preliminary budget for the coming fiscal year. The Council’s response adds those funding priorities back in by identifying alternative resources to pay for them.

These include a host of vital programs and services that the Council believes should not be subject to the whims of the annual “budget dance.” These include:

•   $30 million for cultural institutions to provide necessary organizational support to the cultural community
•   $30.7 million to support the three library systems’ operations
•   $16.9 million for housing and domestic violence-related legal services
•   $5 million to provide for students’ mental health needs
•   $7.8 million for CUNY Reconnect, a program providing services and resources to working-age adults who are pursuing their advanced degrees at CUNY

The Council has a robust list of budget priorities from Members that will be negotiated with the Administration over the next two months, once the State has finalized its budget.

“The City Council’s Preliminary Budget Response serves to confront the challenges facing our city, while responsibly addressing fiscal uncertainty,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Finance. “New Yorkers grappling with an affordability crisis should not see a decline in the quality of the services they receive due to a budget dance, and the City Council is committed to fighting to ensure residents receive the investments they deserve. As the budget negotiations continue, the Council has outlined an alternative path to close the budget shortfall and preserve and expand the services and programs for families across our city.”

The Administration’s preliminary plan projected expenditures and revenues of approximately $122.4 billion in Fiscal Year 2026 and $127.0 billion in Fiscal Year 2027. The budgets presented were balanced on paper, but only through $3.7 billion in anticipated revenue from a property tax rate hike that the Council opposes, and risky drawdowns of the City’s multiyear reserves of $1.2 billion. The $1.1 billion in Council priorities was also excluded, which together totaled $6 billion in funding shortfalls.

That gap can be erased using the following methods:

•   Re-estimations of City Revenues and Expenditures:$3.5 Billion
  •   The City should recognize an additional $80 million in Department of Buildings (DOB) construction permits and late fee re-estimates in FY 2026. OMB has already recognized $218 million in construction fees and $91 million in late fees, while it is estimated DOB will collect at least $258 million and $131 million, respectively, this fiscal year.
  •   The City should rightsize the total wages and salaries budgeted across agencies for what is realistically likely to be spent in FY26. These represent $860 million in savings that have been accrued throughout the year as certain positions, budgeted for in the financial plan, have not been filled, and thus the expenditures have not been made. The Council is not calling for eliminating any vacancies, just to recognize the unspent money to date. To be clear, the Council believes these positions should be filled.
  •   The City should recognize an additional $42 million in FYs 2026 and 2027 in rental revenue from the Port Authority. The FY27 Preliminary Plan only includes $162.4 million, down from $204.4 million in FY25. In January, the Port Authority announced it had its busiest holiday travel season ever, suggesting total revenue could exceed prior years.

•   Efficiencies and Reforms:$2 Billion
  •   The Council estimates the City could save $175 million in FYs 2026 and 2027 by competitively bidding all Department of Education (DOE) contracts, auditing all the agency’s non-essential contracts, and rightsizing contracts that are typically underspent.
  •   Based on historical savings, and accounting for the re-estimates identified in the budget response, the Council believes the City should be able to find an additional $204 million in FY26 through 2027 debt service savings.

•   Revenue Enhancements: $529 Million
  •   The Graveyard Trust, which amasses older and harder-to-collect tax liens but only remits them to the City upon request, could provide $74 million in off-the-books funding.

The Council also highlighted three initial priorities for negotiations over the coming months, including the expansion of the college savings program NYC Kids RISE, to significantly grow the allotment of investment funds available for 5-year-olds. The additional funding would provide an initial investment of up to $1,000 for every public-school kindergartener and up to $3,000 for children with the greatest need. 

Investment in higher education and post-high school trade schools is one of the best ways to address income inequality, and data shows that college graduates, on average, earn more than double the salaries of those who conclude their education after high school.

The second priority is to expand the Fair Fares program to make subways and buses fully free for households under at least 150% of the federal poverty line, so that the lowest-income New Yorkers can count on accessing public transportation without economic strain. The program currently provides half-price fairs for these households. The Council is also looking at ways to increase Fair Fares enrollment, including through automatic enrollment.

The third priority is achieving increased wages for paraprofessionals, an issue that a supermajority of Council Members has supported.

The Council’s budget response is a roadmap for how the City can resolve some of the budgetary issues of the Preliminary Budget and should be incorporated into the Mayor’s Executive Budget. The Council credits the Administration with making a number of crucial changes to its budgeting process that increase transparency and accuracy, but there is much more that can be done. The Council is calling on the Administration to agree to several such measures, including:

•   Appointing a citywide Chief Savings Officer to determine targeted long-term savings Citywide
•   Identifying a Tax Expenditure Chief Savings Officer to identify inefficient or outdated tax breaks
•   Partnering with the Council to develop clear guidelines for the future use and replenishment of the City’s various reserves.

Justice Department Sues Idaho for Failure to Produce Voter Rolls

 

Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced it has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Idaho for failing to produce their full voter registration lists upon request. This brings the Justice Department’s nationwide total to 30 states and the District of Columbia.

“The Justice Department will continue to fulfill its oversight role dutifully, neutrally, and transparently wherever Americans vote in federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Many state election officials, however, are choosing to fight us in court rather than show their work. We will continue to verify that all States are carrying out critical election integrity legal duties.”

According to the lawsuits, the Attorney General is uniquely charged by Congress with broad authority to request  election records under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. This Act allows her to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of statewide voter registration lists that can be cross-checked effectively for improper registrations.

Former Employee Of The Croatian Mission To The U.N. Charged With Embezzling $750,000 Through Fraudulent Invoicing Scheme

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging RENATA SUPINA-SALTUS in connection with a long-running wire fraud scheme in which she fabricated invoices to embezzle approximately $750,000 from her then-employer, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations (the “PMRC”).  SUPINA-SALTUS was arrested and presented today in the District of Connecticut before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia. 

“When someone is given access to an organization’s finances, they are being trusted—plain and simple,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Renata Supina-Saltus allegedly abused that trust and turned the Croation Mission into a personal piggy bank, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars.” 

“Renata Supina-Saltus held a position of trust as member of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso.  “She’s alleged today to have absolutely exploited that trust, enriching herself to the tune of $750,000.  Financial crime and corruption undermine institutions and HSI will leverage our international footprint to aggressively pursue those who abuse their positions to benefit themselves.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]

From at least in or about July 2017 through in or about November 2023, SUPINA-SALTUS worked at the PMRC in a financial administrative capacity.  By virtue of her position, SUPINA-SALTUS had unique access to the PMRC’s vendor payment systems and was authorized to submit and process invoices on the PMRC’s behalf.

For approximately six years SUPINA-SALTUS used her access and position to carry out a fraudulent invoicing scheme to embezzle funds from the PMRC’s accounts into her own personal bank accounts.  SUPINA-SALTUS carried out this scheme by at least two different means.  SUPINA-SALTUS sometimes made double payments for certain invoices, which typically involved an authorized payment to the vendor for the PMRC and then a second payment of the same amount to one of SUPINA-SALTUS’s own bank accounts.  At other times, SUPINA-SALTUS created fake invoices—sometimes from fictitious vendors—and billed them to the PMRC, but then directed the fraudulent payments to bank accounts under her control.

In total, SUPINA-SALTUS embezzled at least approximately $750,000 over the course of her fraudulent invoicing scheme and used the funds for her personal benefit.

SUPINA-SALTUS, 59, of West Haven, Connecticut, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and two counts of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton thanked the State Attorney's Office of the Republic of Croatia, Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime.  Mr. Clayton also praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, its New England Field Office and Attache in Vienna, as well as the New York City Police Department.

Attorney General James Announces Indictment and Arraignment of Former NYPD Officer on Manslaughter Charge

 

Officer Kevin Richmond was Off-Duty When He Struck and Killed Nidia Nieves

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment and arraignment of former New York City Police Department (NYPD) Officer Kevin Richmond, 44, of Elmsford, Westchester County, on the charges of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and two counts of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). The indictment alleges that on July 27, 2023, Officer Richmond drove his personal vehicle while intoxicated and/or with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08% and caused the death of Nidia Nieves. Officer Richmond was off-duty at the time. 

Richmond was arraigned today by Judge Craig Brown at Orange County Court. Judge Brown continued bail at a $40,000 bond, with a $20,000 cash alternative. Officer Richmond is due back in court on May 1, 2026. The maximum sentence on the top count is two and one third to seven years in prison. 

Shortly after midnight on July 27, 2023, Officer Richmond allegedly collided with a motorcycle driven by Nidia Nieves, who was traveling northbound on I-87 in Cornwall, Orange County. Officer Richmond was allegedly intoxicated at the time. Ms. Nieves was thrown from the motorcycle, suffered traumatic injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officer Richmond was initially arrested and arraigned on June 17, 2025 on the charges of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, and two counts of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated before Judge Paul Trachte at Newburgh City Court. Officer Richmond posted the $20,000 cash bail. 

Pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 70-b, the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty at trial or by plea.

Governor Hochul Announces Significant Congestion Pricing Funded Air Quality Improvement Milestone in the Bronx

20 Diesel Transport Refrigeration Units Replaced at Hunts Point Produce Market, Significantly Improving Air Quality

One Replacement Saves Particulate Matter Emissions Equivalent To Removing 330 Trucks

Twenty New Units Projected To Cut Annual Emissions of Particulate Matter by 99.7 Percent and Nitrogen Oxide by 66 Percent

Cleaner Air Investment Funded With Congestion Pricing Revenue

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has reached a major congestion pricing-funded milestone to improve air quality in the Bronx with the replacement of 20 diesel-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) at the Hunts Point Produce Market with clean diesel or hybrid models. These new refrigeration units significantly improve air quality in the Bronx with major reductions in nitrogen oxide (NO) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) while ensuring that Hunts Point Market can continue to play an essential role supplying New Yorkers with the food their families rely on.

“Congestion pricing has been a once-in-a-lifetime success story, leading to cleaner air, better transit, and faster and safer traffic throughout the city,” Governor Hochul said. “We knew that to do this right, we had to bring real air quality improvements directly to parts of New York City that have been neglected for far too long. These new refrigeration units will be a game changer for Hunts Point market, with air quality improvements equivalent to removing thousands of truck trips on our roads every day, making the Bronx’s air cleaner and improving quality of life.”

Replacing a single diesel-powered TRU, some of which are nearly 30 years old, avoids the particulate-matter emissions of 330 truck trips a day on the Cross Bronx Expressway. With 20 now replaced, thanks to funds from the Congestion Relief program, the particulate matter emissions avoided are equivalent to removing 6,600 trucks from the Cross Bronx Expressway. Collectively, this first batch of replacements will cut annual emissions of nitrogen oxide by 66 percent, particulate matter by 99.7 percent, hydrocarbons by 96.8 percent, carbon monoxide by 97.8 percent, and carbon dioxide by 15 percent.

The replacement of TRUs is outlined in the mitigation package of the Environmental Assessment for the congestion pricing program. NYC DOT has been accepting new TRUs on a rolling basis since December 2025, when the first unit was delivered. An additional 75 units are in the active pipeline for replacement this year. There is a total of $15 million allocated for this air quality improvement measure.

In 2025, over 27 million fewer vehicles entered the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ), resulting in meaningful improvements in travel times, air quality and quality of life with less noise pollution and fewer pedestrian accidents. On any given day, over 73,000 fewer vehicles are entering the zone, an 11 percent reduction on average. Additionally, the possible increases in traffic through Environmental Justice Communities in the Bronx have not materialized.

The TRU Replacement Program is the first major mitigation investment supported by funding from congestion pricing. The MTA and its project sponsors are in the last stages of developing the Final Mitigation Plan required under the environmental review process, which will detail the specific locations for each mitigation measure and the proposed allocation funds. The Final Mitigation Plan will be released in the spring.

Approximately 70 percent of the funds allocated for mitigation measures in the category of place-based mitigation will be invested in the Bronx. In addition to TRUs, the remaining mitigation initiatives in progress, both place-based and regional, include:

• A Bronx Asthma Initiative ($20 million)
• Implementation of electric truck charging infrastructure ($20 million)
• Renovation of parks and greenspaces in EJ Communities ($25 million)
• Installation of roadside vegetation to improve near-road air quality ($10 million)
• Installation of air filtration units in NYC and Newark schools near highways ($10 million)
• Expansion of NYC Clean Trucks Program ($20 million)
• Expansion of NYC DOT Off-Hours Delivery Program ($5 million)

Today’s announcement builds upon Governor Hochul’s efforts to enhance the quality of life for Bronx residents. Last November, the Governor announced the completion of the third and final phase of the transformative $1.7 billion Hunts Point Access Improvement Project. Overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation, the six-year project now streamlines access to the Hunts Point Market, taking thousands of heavy commercial vehicles off the local street network every day, while connecting communities and providing new pedestrian and bicycle connections to Garrison, Starlight and Concrete Parks. This transformational project is having a ripple effect in the South Bronx, leading to more investments in housing, opening more greenspace throughout the Borough and improving access to the Bronx River. 

Permits Filed for 1135 Clay Avenue in Concourse Village, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an 11-story residential building at 1135 Clay Avenue in Concourse Village, The Bronx. Located between East 166th Street and East 167th Street, the lot is closest to the 167th Street subway station, served by the B and D trains. Ronald Fraser of FG New York Inc. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 104-foot-tall development will yield 24,398 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 62 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 393 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a tenth-floor rooftop terrace, a cellar, a 30-foot-long rear yard, six open parking spaces, and 13 enclosed parking spaces.

Femi Alege is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.